Himalayan News Service

Damak, March 8:

Tea production in the district will go down by 17 per cent this year, as farmers have been unable to tackle pests hurting the tea crop greatly. According to the Regional Tea and Coffee Development Board (RTCDB)-Mechi, this year’s pest problem affecting tea plants is a serious one, creating an adverse impact on tea plantation spread over hundreds of hectares. RTCDB manager, Ishu Shankar Shrestha said pests including Helopeltis, Milibatra, Thips, Green Fly and Anaita species have infected the plants. Data provided by the RTCDB shows that Jhapa produces 10 million kg of CTC tea in a year. Failure to tackle the pest problem would cost farmers around Rs 100 million. Big tea estates in the district, including Budh Karan, Mittal, Tokala and Giribandh have admitted the possibility of lower tea production this year. The estates added they had used chemical and ayurvedic methods to control the problem.